The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed widespread rumours that it abducted or coerced the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, into resigning.
Naijaonpoint reports that a top EFCC official, who spoke to Sunday Punch on condition of anonymity, confirmed that while the commission received a petition seeking an investigation into Ojulari, no arrest or forced resignation occurred.
The official said, “Those are fake news. It is not true that the EFCC abducted him. On Thursday, protesters came to our office with a petition asking us to investigate the NNPCL chairman. These people have the right to submit petitions, and we told them we would look into it. So, where is the abduction? People should be careful about spreading rumours.”
Similarly, a top official of the Department of State Services (DSS) denied claims that its Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, was involved in pressuring Ojulari to resign.
“The DSS is not involved in the allegation. In fact, our boss mentioned in the allegation has no hand in it,” the official stated, describing the reports as “unfounded and misleading.”
Meanwhile, sources within the NNPCL hinted that certain influential figures in the Presidency are uneasy with Ojulari’s leadership style.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in April to replace Mele Kyari, Ojulari has reportedly been steering the NNPCL strictly as a commercial enterprise, resisting political interference.
His recent dismissal of several top NNPCL officials is said to have unsettled some prominent political figures and government officials linked to those affected.
Additionally, Ojulari is reportedly under suspicion for allegedly maintaining ties with a prominent opposition politician, further fueling tension within government circles.
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